Drilling and swabbing head



Sept. 1, 1931. J. N. HICKS ET Al..

DRILLING AND SWABBING HEAD Filed oct. 1e, 1929' INVENToRs, .fa- /l/.i/Z//CS and ATTORNEY.

m v nrlsmlvi Patented Sept. l, 1931 .,f joint miroirs., ENGELEE, anncnav'ronsnviiins, or LONG 11114611.V

during'tliedril-ling ofoiliwellspr l' i.

In ydevices'of'the class to whichjthis inventionpertains-it'is de'sirab'lcto provide yieldingv meansL to accommodate thef moving and stationary parts to each '1 other `1n, `order to avoid" unnecessary friction and toy accommodate thedevice toslight irregularities in the movement of theltiwl'fhcady and parts carried 'thereby withrespect tothe' tubular portion of the device whichis secured itothe'upper end ofthe `welll casing. The yielding means employed for the purposes stated,; should be of a character whichwill perform the function of a packing between-the'mo'vable and stationary pal'ts'ftokeepoil from cscapingfrom the well casing even; when subjected to a high degree ofpressure therein;

An object ofthis invention is to provide an improved constructionof the above mentioned packing element, and any improved arraugement'of parts for holding said packing element in place. Among the advantages secured bythe invention are: the provision of an improved configuration of the elastic packing element in relation to the shape of the metallic elements wherein saidvpacking'elementis contained and supported in its operative position; and to provide, in conjunction with the improvedfeatures just mentioned, a construction of parts which is inexpensive to manufacture, not apt to get out of order',willwear a. long time, and which may be readily as-` sembled and disassembled. l

A further object of the invention `is to proi vide a device of this character whichis pecupressure of oil and gasftending from the well casing. j

Other objects and advantages may hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal mid-section of the complete device, the cable clamp at the upper end thereof being shown in elevation.

larly well adapted to sustain heavy liquid to A* escape *f am t am apuestan and 0mm 10,1920. se'riai 11. 400,014;

.;Fig.-2=is-a mid-sectional detail of the re'silr`ie'nt packing element together with the metal tube whiclrextends therethrough. This .View illustratesin dotted lines the change of `out-Y line which the packing may assume whenf'55 subjected topressure; y Fig'. l3 is a viewsimilar to'Fig. 2,I showing 'a modification. i Y. Referring in detail-tothe drawings, into the top of the wall casing 5 is screwed 'e160 Atubular base'member 6, having desirablyfour radially extending 'lugs or .short bifurcated arms 7 ranged therearound-two of. these arms being shown in the drawings. Above'said tubularbase 6is a tubular head 10 having a like number of similar radial arms 11. Be- -tween the bifurcations of the arms 7 are pivoted the-lower ends of clamping links 12, the .upper portions of said links being screwthreaded to receive the winged nuts 13 whichV 70 i cooperate with the arms 11.

The lower end of the tubular head 10 is provided with a circumferential skirt 15 within which is a shoulder 16 there being between said shoulder 16 and skirt an annular 75 groove 17. Within said groove 17 is seated the upper portion of a packing ring 18, ther thickness of said ring being considerably kgreater than the depth of said groove in order to provide, `in conjunction with said links 12 80 and the arms with which the cooperate, an efficient packing which is hel in place under pressure.

Withinfthe lower portion of the tubular head 10 is screwed a barrel 2O havingat its 85 lower end a skirt or sleeve portion21 and at its; upper end a body. portion 22. The lower portion of said sleeve 21 is internally bevelledf at 23 at its lower end, and'between this bevelledfportion land thelbody portion 22 "90 thereof 'being of less depth to formA grooves 24a. .1 l f f v In each of said slotsand grooves is pivotally mounted aldog 25 having a head 26 .which l cooperates with'a shoulder 27 provided upon the inner surface of the tubular base 6. Each of said .dogs is normally maintained in its '10 operative position by its compression spring 28 said spring being located above the pivot 29 whereon the do Y ismounted. These dogs are each provide with a tapered heel 30 which is adapted to be engaged by the shank 31 of the upper joint of the tool line which is suspended from the cable 32, and when so engaged said dogs are all moved from the operative to the inoperative position.

. sion 37 being embedded within a rubber body 40 which lis vulcanized thereto and to a portion of the body of the plunger 35 above and below said rib. y s

Above said rubber body 4() an annular follower 41 is fitted into the upper end of the tubular head 10, and the structure is completed by screwing the cap 42 on to the upper end of the said tubular head. Said follower 41 is provided with a central opening 43 and said cap is provided with a central opening 44, these openings being large enough to provide a clearance between them and the tubular guide 35. A plurality of lextensions 45 are provided on said guide 35 and 37 to aid in the vulcanizing process.

When the tubular guide 35 is mounted as stated it is supported entirely by the rubber bo'dy 40 which is vulcanized thereto. Around thev lower end of said guide is provided the clearance 50 and between said clearance 50 and the rubber body 40 is provided a clearance 5l,- said clearances 51 and 50 being formed as bores located centrally of the tubular head 10. -This construction provides a firm support for said tubular guide and yet permits considerable accommodation to irregularities of movement and angular position of the plunger 34 which operates therewithin. i The parts which contain the rubber 40 are so shaped as to provide a lcontaining chamber having the upper angular recesses 52 and the lower angular recess 53 and there is also provided a broad shallow groove 54 formed within and around the upper portion of the barrel 10 opposite said rib 37.

The rubber body 40 is dished at 55 at its upper end and at 56 at its lower end, and is normally of uniform external diameter. But

when saidirubber body is subjected to end- Wise pressure there is caused to form around each of its ends a circumferential enlargement 58 and a resulting circumferential scallop 59 at its midlength.

The follower ring or disc 41 has its lower surface shaped to conform to the dished portion 55 of t e is of suicient thickness to cause the screwing of the cap 42 thereagainst to compress the rubber body 40 to such an extent as to form a dependable fluid-'tight closure around the guide 35.

'The containing chamber in which the elastic body 40 is located is provided in its bottom with a central convexity 53a, and the follower 52 has a like convexity 52a in its lower face, causing the compression of said elastic body 40 between said swells to be radially outward. This leaves no additional pressure, of the interior portion of said body 40 against the guide 35 when the yfollower 52 is clamped down against said body. Said guide 35 is therefore more free to deviate laterally when the well tool line is being operated. With respect to vertical ressures, when the follower 41 is forced own, the greatest movement of compression at each end of the elast-ic body 40 is close to the cir cumference of said body. Therefore the greatest condensing of the material in the elastic body 40 is produced along the outer portion thereof on all sides thereof, while the portions thereof nearer its axis remain in a less compressed condition and therefore yield more readily to accommodate themselves to changes in the axial position of the tubular guide 35 and its enlarged portion 37.

The recess 52a and 53a which are provided in the end portions of the rubber body 4() produce a pneumatic cushioning effect which augments and improves the general resiliency of the device. y

Fig. 3 shows a modification wherein a rubber body 40a is provided at each side of the enlarged portion 37 of the tubular guide 35 thus leaving a clear annular space 59a around the enlargement 37 of the tubular guide. The elastic bodies shown in Fig. 3 may be forced over the guide stem 35 so as to be retained thereon friction tight aided by their own contractive elasticity, and therefore vulcanizing is not lnecessary in this form of the invention. Otherwise the construction shown in Fig. 3 is the same as shown in Fig. 2.

Referrin to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the diameter o the openings 43 and 51 around the tubular guide 35 is less than the external diameter of the annular enlargement 37 of said guide. Therefore a volume of rubber of suliicient size to withstand effectively shearing strain is provided both above and below said annular enlargement 37.

rubber body,'and said follower lll In order to keep the barrel 20 from rotating adapted to support well tools, a plunger through which said cable extends and together with which it reciprocates, a guide around said plunger in spaced relation thereto, a packing in the space between said plunger and the interior surface of said guide and formin a fluid tight fit across said space, a rubber ody surrounding said guide and vulcanized thereto, a su port having a chamber into which said rub er body is tted, said body being adapted to sustain said guide and to permit lateral deviation thereof, and

means to secure said support to the top of a said guide, there being clearance provided between said guide and hollow head to permit such deviations.

3. In an oil saving device of the character described, in combination, an upright member having a cup-shaped recess in its upper end and an axial bottom opening leadlng from said recess, means to attach said member to the upper end of a well casing with said bottom opening in communication with the well, an elastic body fitted within said recess, a tubular guide extending axiall through said body and having said bo y secured thereto whereby a lluid tight t is provided around said guide, means secured to the uper end of the cup-shapedpart of said memer and comprising a follower portion adapted to compress said rubber body, and well tool carrying means adapted to reciprocate through said guide, there being clearance around said guide to permit it to deviate latrailly in opposition to the elasticity of said 4. In an oil saving'. device of the character described, in combination, an upright member having a cup-shaped recess in its upper end and an axial bottom opening leading from said recess, means to attach said member to the upper end of a well casing with said bottom opening in communication with the well, an elastic body tted within said recess, a tubular guide lextending axially through said body and having said body secured thereto whereby a fluid tight lit is provided around said guide, said tubular guide having a circumferential rib embedded in said elastic body, means secured to the up er end of the cup-shaped part of said member and comprising a follower portion adapted to dy permitting lateral deviations ofcompress said rubber body, and well tool carrying means adapted to reciprocate through said guide, there being clearance around said guide to permit it to deviate laterally in 0pposition to the elasticit of said body.

5. As a new article o manufacture for use in oil saving devices of the character described, a tubular guide adapted to direct the reciprocatory movements 'of tool pipe line suspending means, said guide having an elastic body secured thereto and extending therearound, said elastic body having dished end rendering the same thinner to add to the elasticity thereof, and said guide having a circumferential rib around which the central portion of said elastic body is moulded.

6. As a new article of'manufacture for use in oil saving devices of the character described, a tubular guide adapted to direct the reciprocatory movements of tool pipe line suspending means, said guide having an elastic body secured thereto and extending therearound, said elastic body having dished end rendering the same thinner with a plurality of recesses formed therein to add to the elasticity thereof, and said guidev having a circumferential a rib around which the central portion of said elastic bodyis moulded.

7. As a new article of manufacture for use in oil saving devices of the character described, a tubular guide adapted to direct the reciprocatory movements of tool pipe line suspending means, said guide having an elastic ody secured thereto and extending therearound, said elastic body having dished end portions rendering the same thinner t0 add to the elasticity thereof, and said guide having at substantially its mid-length means extending therearound and projecting outwardly therefrom into said elastic body to anchor said body thereto.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aliix our signatures.

JOHN N. HICKS. CLAYTON SEVERNS.

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